Gerald Douglas Young

With his children at his side, Gerald Young quietly slipped into the eternities on Friday evening, August 1, 2014 at about 8pm, in the Chatsworth, California home that he and his beloved and beautiful wife, Kazuko, filled with family memories since 1976. Over the past many years, he dealt with multiple kinds of cancer, none of which became severe until recently. Gerald was truly of the Greatest Generation. Born on August 31, 1925 in Posen, Michigan, he grew up in the Great Depression, and became one of the elite Americans enthusiastic to join the fight to defend our freedoms in World War II. He worked as a civilian engineer in radio communications in the Korean War and met his dream girl, Kazuko Kawamura, at Tachikawa Air Force Base in Tokyo, while working in Japan for 10 years. They married on May 14, 1957, and within 4 years Anita and Mike were born in Tokyo. He then took his family to Germany to continue his work with the US armed forces where Dave was born. The envy of his children to this day, he saw much of the world following WWII, before finally settling with his family in southern California in 1964. As an electrical engineer for GE in the states, Jerry wrote software for the Apollo space program on-board computers contributing to putting a man on the moon with Apollo 11. After that mission was completed he wrote software for the on-board computers of the Space Shuttle. Jerry was a father of great patience and love – an example of humility, kindness and a pure heart. He dedicated his life to his Catholic faith in Jesus Christ, and leaves this world in humble confidence before the Lord. Jerry and Kazi celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before she preceded him in passing on October 22, 2007. Jerry’s older brothers Bill and Harry also went before him. Jerry is survived by his children, Anita Percivalle married to Don, Mike and his wife Wendy, and Dave and his wife Jennifer. He has 5 grandchildren, Lauren and Donny children of Anita; and Elizabeth, Harrison and Joseph, children of Dave. Jerry and Kazi will be missed.

If you would like to send flowers for the services, please send them to St John Eudes Church 9901 Mason Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311

for services on August 18, 2014 at 10:30 am.